Class of 2010 Looks Forward to Commencement

Meredith’s Class of 2010, with approximately 460 members, will celebrate commencement on Sunday, May 9, 2010, beginning at 10 a.m. in McIver Amphitheater.
The College will confer Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Social Work degrees upon graduates of the undergraduate program, as well as master’s degrees in business, education, music and nutrition. These include degrees completed in August 2009, December 2009 and May 2010. Among those receiving degrees are the first students to complete Meredith’s Master of Arts in Teaching program.

Post-Graduation Plans

Meredith seniors have found jobs with the FBI, Credit Suisse and Variety Wholesalers, among others.

Brie Sherman, a fashion design major, plans to move to New York City and work in the fashion industry. She completed an internship with designer Michael Kors last summer, and hopes to work for his company as an assistant designer or in merchandising.

“I want to work in the fashion industry, so I’m going to New York to see where that takes me,” Sherman said.

Several members of the class plan to earn graduate degrees at universities including NC State, East Carolina and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Margie Hicks will earn a Master of Accounting at the top-rated University of Texas. Hicks credits Meredith’s faculty with preparing her for her future career as a CPA.

“The thing I liked most about Meredith was the closeness to the faculty. My teachers always took a hands-on approach to teaching and always wanted to see me succeed, in and out of the classroom,” Hicks said.

Class President Meghan Laurin also counts lessons learned from faculty and from friends among her favorite memories.

“The professors I have had the privilege to study under came to every class ready to impart new knowledge to the minds before them,” said Laurin. “Their enthusiasm for teaching fostered a strong desire of learning within me. Through the traditions and memories we have shared, my friends have taught me one of the greatest lessons, that life is a journey and not a destination.”

Many seniors are thinking back on their college experiences, and remembering why they chose to attend Meredith.

Student Government Association President Amy Damone said when she visited campus, “something just felt right.”

“I loved how small it was, I loved how friendly everyone was, I started to realize that Meredith was for me,” Damone said. “And since that moment I continued to learn that Meredith was the right fit all along, and my time here has been everything I could have wanted and more.”

Senior Benafsha Noori hadn’t seen Meredith before arriving to begin her first year at the College. Noori, the first student to attend Meredith through the College’s partnership with the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women (IEAW), was matched with Meredith by the IEAW. The IEAW gives women from Afghanistan the opportunity to earn a college degree by placing them at partner colleges in the U.S. Meredith has participated in this effort since 2006.

“I didn’t expect so much love and kindness from everyone at Meredith before coming here. I loved being here,” said Noori, who is planning to go on to graduate school before returning home to Afghanistan. She plans to work with either the government or United Nations, before eventually running her own business.

Amanda Eubanks, who is earning majors in international studies and women’s studies, plans to attend graduate school and to volunteer in political campaigns in her hometown of Beaufort.

“Meredith has prepared me for these plans by granting me the essential ‘know how’ to succeed. I have experiences both inside and outside of the classroom that have taught me the importance of research, professionalism, critical thinking, and self-empowerment,” Eubanks said. “It is through Meredith’s focus on civic engagement that I have found my true passions and in this have realized the path of future success I wish to take.”